Barnes reduced recoil ammo or make your own.
Taming a 7mm Mag
- Thread starter Twisted Chemist
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GooseGestapo
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I bought a new Remington M700 SPS (same as the ADL) from Walmart 2yrs ago when Remington folded (again) in 7mag. ($250 otd!).
I’ve found it to be a remarkable rifle. 26”barrel, and a decent trigger.
After shooting an assortment of ammo and now having around 250rds down the barrel, accuracy is decent.
I don’t think the recoil is significant. M6 favorite.30/06, a Colt LtRifle, at 7lbs with a 165gr bullet at 3,000fps (chrono’d) recoils more but not annoyingly so.
I’m getting 3,250fps with a 160gr Speer BtSpt over a less than max load of “Grand” powder. Rifle prefers RL22 and RL25 (of course…) but those are “Unobtanium” now.
I put a Burris Fulfield 4.5-14 OA scope on it that weighs nearly a pound more than a Leupold 3-9.
I hunted elk with it in Wyoming in fall of ‘23 when riding in a 4-seat SxS. I didn’t find the 26”bbl or 10lb weight a problem. When I was walking, I carried my REM Model 7 in 7mm08. At 7lb, it kicks as hard as the Magnum but still isn’t enough to bother.
But then again, I used to be an avid waterfowl hunter and was accustomed to the recoil of a 12ga 3” 1-3/8oz steel shot shell.
After I fitted a Pachmayer Old English “Decelerator” pad on my Ruger M77MkII “African” in .375Ruger, I don’t think it kicks bad..
I’ve found it to be a remarkable rifle. 26”barrel, and a decent trigger.
After shooting an assortment of ammo and now having around 250rds down the barrel, accuracy is decent.
I don’t think the recoil is significant. M6 favorite.30/06, a Colt LtRifle, at 7lbs with a 165gr bullet at 3,000fps (chrono’d) recoils more but not annoyingly so.
I’m getting 3,250fps with a 160gr Speer BtSpt over a less than max load of “Grand” powder. Rifle prefers RL22 and RL25 (of course…) but those are “Unobtanium” now.
I put a Burris Fulfield 4.5-14 OA scope on it that weighs nearly a pound more than a Leupold 3-9.
I hunted elk with it in Wyoming in fall of ‘23 when riding in a 4-seat SxS. I didn’t find the 26”bbl or 10lb weight a problem. When I was walking, I carried my REM Model 7 in 7mm08. At 7lb, it kicks as hard as the Magnum but still isn’t enough to bother.
But then again, I used to be an avid waterfowl hunter and was accustomed to the recoil of a 12ga 3” 1-3/8oz steel shot shell.
After I fitted a Pachmayer Old English “Decelerator” pad on my Ruger M77MkII “African” in .375Ruger, I don’t think it kicks bad..
entropy
Member
Stock design makes a world of difference. So do muzzle brakes. The only way I'd ever shoot a 7mm Rem. Mag. again is in a McMillan stock, with a minimum of a KickEez pad, preferably one on a Gra-Coil recoil device, and an effective muzzle break.
I'd probably look for a 7mm-08 or .280AI first.
Some folks are more sensitive to recoil than others and some calibers produce a sharper recoil than others. Good example, my two favorite hunting rifles are 1) .338 Win Mag and 300 WM, both of which produce a sharper/more noticeable felt recoil than the .375 h&h which is obviously a more powerful cartridge, the .375 is more of a push than a sharp recoil. Poor stock fit can add to felt recoil. @ Buzznose offers good advice.
That’s me, I don’t like “sharp” recoil. I like my .458 Win Mag, I do not like the 7MM Mag which to me has sharp recoil.
And of course the weight of the gun matters.
OP
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Twisted Chemist
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Well, I believe you have struck at the heart of the matter. *sigh* Time to move on....
Buzznrose
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Maybe…we all need to decide on our own.
I had a nice Winchester M70 in 7MM that carried a lot of fond memories of hunting days gone by. But shooting it just hurt these days, so it’s gone down the road to another hunter who will keep harvesting deer with it.
redneck2
Member
It 5’7” I’m not a big guy. My 7 Mag Browning is not at all unpleasant to shoot even with 162 grain full power loads. It is relatively light. As noted, stock fits me well and has a super squishy recoil pad which IMO makes a HUGE difference
I had a Ruger lever action .45-70. You can load them to within about 100 fps of a .458 WM IIRC. Even with those loads it was tolerable because it had a Pachmyr pad
I have seen guys that are recoil sensitive that don’t hold their head tight to the stock. Not a good move.
I had a Ruger lever action .45-70. You can load them to within about 100 fps of a .458 WM IIRC. Even with those loads it was tolerable because it had a Pachmyr pad
I have seen guys that are recoil sensitive that don’t hold their head tight to the stock. Not a good move.
A Pact recoil pad goes a long way to helping with recoil, I'm talking about the 1/2" pad worn over the shoulder.
Yep guys smirk and Scoff at my sissy pad until they see me shooting the heavy hitters all day without flinching or getting a sore shoulder. Now these same guys ask if I brought the sissy pad when we shoot. I only use it at the range while setting at the bench or prone, don't really need it shooting off hand.
Yep guys smirk and Scoff at my sissy pad until they see me shooting the heavy hitters all day without flinching or getting a sore shoulder. Now these same guys ask if I brought the sissy pad when we shoot. I only use it at the range while setting at the bench or prone, don't really need it shooting off hand.
Sooooo.....here's something to consider, brake and recoil pad can help reduce recoil up to 40%, get the most efficient of each, slap em on a nice .280ai, in a roughly 9lb rifle, running something like 4895 (max charge is 47 gr) with a 140 gr ballistic tip or sst or whatever tickles your fancy, you'll push a respectable 2800fps and have less recoil than my .243 running hot. (13 ftlbs minus 40% equals 8 ftlbs, just a little more than our heavier .22-250 loads) When you burn through 1-200 of those pills and are plenty comfy with it, you can grab some h1000 and push it up closer to the 7rm levels with the 140s, 150s, or 162s or whatever you think you want to tinker with. You should be able to get close to 2800 with the 162s which is not nothing by a long shot and knocking right on the door of the 7rm but with considerably less recoil due to less powder being burnt. (19 ft-lbs minus 40% equals 11.4 ft-lbs, right up there with my hot and heavy .243 loads). Just something to consider. Now obviously, if your rifle gets heavier the recoil will decrease and if you go lighter, you'll up the recoil, but this gives you a neighborhood to think about.
.308 Norma
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Other than having a stock that fits, I'm not at all sure that the size of the shooter makes a lot of difference when it comes to managing recoil. As I've said before, for big game, my 5'1", 120lb wife shoots a highly customized Winchester 70, 7mm Rem Mag. And she shoots it very well.
From some of your other posts, Twisted Chemist, I'm pretty sure you're a handloader, so why not just do what my wife does in order to handle the recoil of her own 7mm Rem Mag? My wife uses reduced loads (140gr bullets over medium-light charges of IMR 4895) to practice with off and on all spring and summer. Then, come fall, she straps on a PAST recoil shield, runs a few full-house (160gr Speer GS over 64.5 grs of RL22) loads through her 7mm Rem Mag just to make sure it's "on," and takes it hunting. She doesn't wear the PAST recoil shield while actually hunting, but she never feels the rifle go off anyway when she's shooting at a deer.
Of course, if you just "want" a new rifle, using your skills and knowhow to make the 7mm Rem Mag you already have shoot like a 7mm-08 is a waste of time, and a distraction. So, if just "wanting" a new/different rifle is the case, I apologize for the distraction. If there was more room in our gun safes, I'd have more rifles (that I don't really need) myself.
Theinkman
Member
Shooting my 7RM from a bench, I always wear a Limbsaver recoil pad. Surprising how much that reduces felt recoil. Also as others have mentioned, a good stock fit plus a good positioning behind the gun really has a positive effect. With that being said, I have a limit of about 20 rounds through the 7RM at any one bench session. I am not a flincher but after about 20 rounds I start to anticipate the recoil in somewhat of a negative manner.
1942farmall
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Another option I haven't seen mentioned is a slip-
on brake if you don't want to alter a rifle by having a barrel threaded.
My older model 70 XTR Sporter Mag Winchester that just had the factory pink rubber butt pad used to beat me up badly.
I put a Witt Machine brake on it.
It tamed the recoil significantly. They arent small but do really work well.
I have also since changed the stock to a Boyds thumbhole.
on brake if you don't want to alter a rifle by having a barrel threaded. My older model 70 XTR Sporter Mag Winchester that just had the factory pink rubber butt pad used to beat me up badly.
I put a Witt Machine brake on it.
It tamed the recoil significantly. They arent small but do really work well.
I have also since changed the stock to a Boyds thumbhole.
entropy
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There's a reason you haven't seen that option- they are notorious for shooting loose and going down range.
1942farmall
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Never had an issue after years of shooting.
I have a second on an M77 Ruger 30.06 with a paddle stock.
It was brutal before the brake
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Gun-Reck
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Toxic affinity.
A .270 Winchester - will kill as well, w/o the toxicity.
Probably a 6.5x55mm/6.5CM as well.
"What's love got to do with it..."
- Tina Turner -
Add a suppressor. They reduce some felt recoil and tame the muzzle blast
Lots of the flinch in the body reacting and bracing for the muzzle blast.
Make sure your stock fits you well, recoils pads help
When my son was 8 he enjoyed shooting my 308 because it was suppressed. He hated the ar 15 without a suppressor
Lots of the flinch in the body reacting and bracing for the muzzle blast.
Make sure your stock fits you well, recoils pads help
When my son was 8 he enjoyed shooting my 308 because it was suppressed. He hated the ar 15 without a suppressor
doubleh
Member
I have to agree with this. I started hunting with a light weight 30-06 before hearing protection became a thing and it kicked like a mule when I shot it off a bench before hunting season to check zero. Fast forward a few years and my BIL that was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force gave me a pair of earmuffs. I was amazed at how much less my '06 kicked using those muffs.
As to square range fudds I don electronic hearing protection before I exit my vehicle. Shooting ranges are loud and it's each person's responsibility to protect their hearing. Can't take the noise, stay home. If I could still get around well enough to hunt I would wear electronic protection while hunting. Being half deaf now it would be an aid to hear what is happening around me while preserving what hearing ability I have left. I have harped on protection enough that when my family gathers for a range day the first things to come out are hearing and eye protection.
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Oldelkhunter
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A lot of it depends on the rifle and stock configuration as far as felt recoil. It just does not bother me, on the other hand a 300 win mag seems to be the edge of increased recoil. A proper stock on one of those will decrease felt recoil . A Tikka T3x SS synthetic I own in 30-06 has more objectionable kick then any 300 win mag I have ever owned.
Armorer 101
Member
A flinch is fairly easy to overcome if you reload, on a five shot situation, make 2 dummy rounds, using spent primers and no powder. mix them up, load the magazine. bolt and shoot a target over and over again, until the flinch is gone. If a 3 shot system make 1 dummy. Breath, hold, squeeze....breathe hold, squeeze. Watch your groups as you progress.
Go to the 140 grain Hornady Interlocks with the Lyman manual accuracy load for the 7mm RM. The 7mmRM is capable of sub .25 inch group accuracy at 100 in a decent rifle.
I have four and was the coach on the 101st Airborne Division Rifle Team. The dummy rounds is an old coaching process to stop a flinch.
Go to the 140 grain Hornady Interlocks with the Lyman manual accuracy load for the 7mm RM. The 7mmRM is capable of sub .25 inch group accuracy at 100 in a decent rifle.
I have four and was the coach on the 101st Airborne Division Rifle Team. The dummy rounds is an old coaching process to stop a flinch.
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Recoil doesn't bother me until I get into the 470 NE and up. Having never shot a 7mm Mag I was wondering just how much the 7mm kicked. Thanks for the comparison.
Bingo! A lot of dry firing can also help get over an aggressive trigger pull.
Not if I use 57 gr of 4350 in the 7 and 66 gr of hunter in the .30-06....then the .30 has about 6 more lbs
!Captain*kirk
Member
If you're a handloader, you can step the 7mm down quite a bit with a lighter bullet. I shoot an A-Bolt in 7 and have found a PAST magnum recoil pad to be very helpful at the range. That's where your flinch develops. You won't even notice the recoil in the stand.
I agree with many of the above posters about using dummy rounds to cure the flinch. Either that, or step down to a milder cartridge.
You can also look for a mid-90s Winchester or Browning rifle with the BOSS if you are dead set on a muzzle brake.
I agree with many of the above posters about using dummy rounds to cure the flinch. Either that, or step down to a milder cartridge.
You can also look for a mid-90s Winchester or Browning rifle with the BOSS if you are dead set on a muzzle brake.
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